I made these Chunky Monkey Cupcakes to celebrate the opening day of Disneynature's Monkey Kingdom.
This version of the Chunky Monkey Cupcake is so moist and delicious, largely because of the pudding in the cake recipe.
To make this recipe even more mouthwatering, there's fruit filling! Why not make a batch of Chunky Monkey Cupcakes to snack on this afternoon?
It’s no secret that bananas are good for you. Not only are they packed with potassium to promote heart health, but they’re also a great source of vitamins and fiber, and can help you lose weight while still staying full!
Bananas can also help you manage your blood pressure, so you can have a sweet but healthy snack without loading up on too much sugar or carbs.
And speaking of healthy snacks, bananas are the perfect treat for your own little monkeys! They’re low on fat, sodium, and cholesterol, and help to encourage strong bone and muscle growth.
Bananas are in season all year ‘round and come in a convenient yellow carrying case—what’s not to love?
What You Need to Make Chunky Monkey Cupcakes
Gather your ingredients. To make the cupcakes, you will need flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, vanilla, vegetable oil, eggs, milk, sour cream, and banana cream pudding mix.
For the apple mixture that goes inside the cupcakes, you'll need apples of your choice, water, and sugar.
To make the frosting, you'll need unsalted sweet cream butter, powdered sugar, imitation banana extract, heavy whipping cream, yellow food coloring, caramel for drizzle on top, along with 2-3 bananas depending on size. You'll need 18 banana slices, ½ - ¾ inches.
Cupcake Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cupcake liners in a cupcake pan.
Add dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Sift together.
Mix liquid ingredients together. Once the liquid ingredients are fully combined, mix the liquid and dry ingredients together.
Add eggs to the mixture, beating until totally combined.
Pour batter into lined pan until ¾ full, and bake at 350° degrees for 15-18 minutes.
Let cool for 15-20 minutes. Once completely cool, use a small scooper or spoon and scoop a hole in the center of the cupcake.
Cooked Apple Directions
Peel, core, and chop apples into small pieces. Add water, apples, and sugar to a pot and cook on stove until the apple chunks become tender.
Cool apple mixture in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours. Fill the hole made with the cupcake scooper with the chunky cooked apples.
Frosting Directions
Mix soft butter with sugar in stand up mixer until they look like small rock pebbles. Add whipping cream and continue to beat at medium speed. Add 2 drops yellow food coloring.
Add in the imitation banana extract. Continue to mix until frosting stands in stiff peaks.
If the peaks aren't stiff enough, add powdered sugar at ½ C at a time until the peaks form and stand.
Apply the frosting to cupcakes in a pastry bag with tip. (This Wilton pastry bag is the one I use.)
Drizzle with caramel and a thick banana slice on top.
If you're a Disney fan, check out these 17 Amazing Disney-themed cupcakes!
Monkey Kingdom is one of the Disneynature films. It's educational and fun, so be sure to see it with the whole family.
Save these Chunky Monkey Cupcakes to Pinterest for Later!
Chunky Monkey Cupcakes Recipe
Ingredients
For Cupcakes
- 2 C flour
- 1 C cocoa
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ C granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¾ C vegetable oil
- 4 eggs room temp
- ½ C milk
- 1 C sour cream
- 1 3.4 oz banana cream pudding
For the Cooked Apples
- 4 apples of your choice
- 2 C water
- ½ C Sugar
For Frosting
- ½ C unsalted sweet cream butter
- 2 C powdered sugar
- 3 teaspoon of imitation banana extract
- 2 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 2 drops yellow food coloring
- Caramel for drizzle on top
- 2 large bananas
Instructions
- To Make CupcakesPreheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cupcake liners in a cupcake pan.
- Add dry ingredients into a mixing bowl. Sift together.
- Mix liquid ingredients together. Once the liquid ingredients are fully combined, mix the liquid and dry ingredients together.
- Add eggs to the mixture, beating until totally combined.
- Pour batter into lined pan until ¾ full, and bake at 350° degrees for 15-18 minutes.
- Let cool for 15-20 minutes. Once completely cool, use a small scooper or spoon and scoop a hole in the center of the cupcake.
- For the Apple FillingPeel, core, and chop apples into small pieces. Add water, apples, and sugar to a pot and cook on stove until the apple chunks become tender.
- Cool apple mixture in the refrigerator overnight or for several hours. Fill the hole made with the cupcake scooper with the chunky cooked apples.
- For the FrostingMix soft butter with sugar in stand up mixer until they look like small rock pebbles. Add whipping cream and continue to beat at medium speed. Add 2 drops yellow food coloring.
- Add in the imitation banana extract. Continue to mix until frosting stands in stiff peaks.
- If the peaks aren't stiff enough, add powdered sugar at ½ C at a time until the peaks form and stand.
- Apply the frosting to cupcakes in a pastry bag with tip. (This Wilton pastry bag is the one I use.)
- Drizzle with caramel and a thick banana slice on top.
Jessica
Hi! These look fun! I am confused about the apple filling though - is that supposed be in this recipe? I could see the flavors complementing okay but I know the classic “chunky monkey” is banana and chocolate (and walnuts). Just wanted to clarify about the apples.
Kelly Stilwell
Hi Jessica- yes, they are in the filling and really good!